A few weeks ago I had a look at several apps that enable users to change photographs (and sometimes video) to carton-style output (see below). An apparent newcomer - I am never sure the way things bubble to the top in the App Store here - is Clip 2 Cartoon, which has the sub-title, "Sketch Me! Make Comics & Morph Faces". This is a useful free app that allows conversion of iOS Photo library content, or input (video and photo) from the device camera.

The app is quite easy to use which should endear it to new users, but its output styles would be just as useful for experienced users as for beginners. There are two in-app purchases: watermark removal (essential if this is to be used fully); and extra editing tools.

I tried it first on the iPad Air 2 where it fills the screen as it is a universal app. Using it on the iPhone is not significantly different. When an image is selected the default Portrait effect is applied immediately. There are severn other filters: colour and two monochrome. Each produces a nice image from the original, although the darker "Papercut" filter did not suit in all cases: these are always subjective.

The app also provides editing tools for photo images: Crop, Retouch, Deform, Brightness, Saturation and Contrast. Retouch and Deform required in-app purchases to unlock, but the user could try before buying. An image can be saved to the Photo Library (as a new image) or exported. As the saving is complete, a nice image appears of the cartoon style output as it might appear printed and mounted on the wall.

The video processing was similar, although there are only Styles and no additional editing tools. Once the user decides on the style selected, there is a short processing period: the time depends on the length of the clip. Like the photos, there was nothing complex about this, although the results are quite satisfying.

The Clip 2 Cartoon app provides an uncomplicated example of image editing and processing to produce cartoon-like output in a number of styles. It is easy to use and is recommended

See also:

Another Update Ready for iOS 11: ToonCamera - Original Goodness Preserved for Photo and Video Output

Graham K. Rogers teaches at the Faculty of Engineering, Mahidol University in Thailand. He wrote in the Bangkok Post, Database supplement on IT subjects. For the last seven years of Database he wrote a column on Apple and Macs. After 3 years writing a column in the Life supplement, he is now no longer associated with the Bangkok Post. He can be followed on Twitter (@extensions_th)